The Netherlands becomes third nation to announce base camp in KC during World Cup
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- The Netherlands will practice at KC Current training facility during 2026 World Cup
- KC will host three Pot 1 teams — Argentina, England and the Netherlands
- Algeria expected to base in Lawrence and play two group games in KC
A third world soccer power is officially making Kansas City its 2026 FIFA World Cup base.
The Netherlands and Kansas City Current announced Thursday that the Dutch national team will practice at the Current’s training facility in Riverside.
The Netherlands, No. 7 in the FIFA men’s world rankings, will join second-ranked Argentina and fourth-ranked England in Kansas City this summer.
Argentina will train at Sporting Kansas City’s practice facility, and England at Swope Soccer Village.
Kansas City is the only site that will host more than one team from Pot 1 in the FIFA group-stage draw.
“To be the only city with more than one pot team is incredible, and to have three is extraordinary,” said Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026.
Three of the 12 teams in Pot 1 were the host nations — the U.S., Mexico and Canada. That means nine of the world’s best teams were looking for a training base for their stay in North America this summer.
“So, to have a third of those choose Kansas City, we think, speaks to the facilities, the collaboration, our location and the experience they had (visiting) here,” Kramer said. “We couldn’t be happier.”
A fourth nation, Algeria, is soon expected to announce that Lawrence’s Rock Chalk Park will be its base camp. Algeria will play two group-stage games in Kansas City, starting with Argentina on June 16.
The Netherlands will meet Tunisia in a group-stage match on June 25. England doesn’t play a group-stage game in Kansas City.
Chris Long, Current co-owner along with his wife Angie, said Netherlands officials first visited the complex last summer and were impressed with what they saw at the facility -- from working space for the team’s front office to the quality of the turf field -- that opened in 2022.
“It’s a testament to what we have at the complex that we ultimately were able to, honestly, sell them on this being their second home,” Long said.
This story was originally published February 12, 2026 at 10:16 AM with the headline "The Netherlands becomes third nation to announce base camp in KC during World Cup."